Career & Certification Roadmaps¶
Source:
_imported/IT Support Technician Certification Roadmap.txt+_imported/IT Field Technician Certification Roadmap.txt· Applies to: All Club Support technicians · Last reviewed: 2026-07
Purpose¶
Certification and skill-development guides for IT Support Technician and IT Field Technician career tracks. Use these when planning training budgets, performance reviews, or individual development plans.
IT Support Technician track¶
Career path after certification: Systems Administrator (M365) → Long-term: M365 Engineer
Stage 1 — Foundation Level¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Foundation | Microsoft Certified: Windows Client (MD-100) — Covers deploying, configuring, securing, managing, and troubleshooting Windows 10/11. | Basic troubleshooting of Windows OS; Installing and configuring desktops; Command line and PowerShell basics; Device drivers, updates, remote support |
Stage 2 — Core Microsoft 365 Support Skills¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 2 — Core M365 | Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate (MD-102) — Focuses on deploying and managing Windows devices, Microsoft Intune, and apps in M365 environments. Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals (MS-900) — Intro to Microsoft 365 services, cloud concepts, and licensing. |
Deploying and securing Windows devices using Microsoft Intune; Supporting Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.); Managing user identities, roles, and groups in Microsoft 365 Admin Center; Understanding Microsoft 365 security and compliance features |
Stage 3 — Advanced Support + Administration¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 3 — Advanced | Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate (MD-102). Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate (MS-203) — supporting Exchange Online. Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate (MS-700) |
Advanced troubleshooting of Microsoft 365 applications and services; Exchange Online mailbox policies, spam filtering, transport rules; Teams configuration and support; User and license management with PowerShell |
Stage 4 — Admin Path¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — Admin | Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator (SC-300) — Focus on managing user identities and access in Microsoft 365 and Azure AD. Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900) — Great for understanding Microsoft's approach to zero trust, compliance, and identity protection. |
Role-based access control (RBAC); Conditional Access policies; MFA, SSPR, and password policies; Device and data compliance in Microsoft 365; Microsoft Intune / Endpoint Manager; Troubleshooting licensing issues and tenant-level problems; Azure AD (now Entra ID) basics; Supporting hybrid environments (on-prem AD + Azure AD) |
⚠️ Retired-exam notice — The source roadmap lists MD-100 (Stage 1) and "Modern Desktop Administrator Associate" / MD-101 (Stage 3). Both of those older exams are retired by Microsoft. The current single replacement exam is MD-102 (Endpoint Administrator), which is already reflected in Stage 2–3 above. As additional modern recommendations: MS-203 (Messaging Administrator), MS-700 (Teams Administrator), and SC-900 (Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals) are all included in Stages 3–4 and are strongly encouraged. See ../../skills-and-certifications.md for the full current cert tracking list.
IT Field Technician track¶
Career path after certification: IT Support Specialist / Tier 2
Stage 1 — Entry-Level¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Entry | CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) – Basic understanding of IT concepts. CompTIA A+ – Core certification for hardware, software, troubleshooting, and customer service. |
PC/laptop assembly & repair; Windows installation/configuration; Basic networking and security; Ticketing systems & customer support |
Stage 2 — Core Field Tech Competency¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 2 — Core | CompTIA Network+ – Networking basics, troubleshooting, and tools. Microsoft Certified: Windows Client – Managing and supporting Windows OS. |
Networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP); Cabling and physical infrastructure; Wireless troubleshooting; Imaging, backup, and deployment tools |
Stage 3 — Specialization¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 3 — Specialization | Systems / Server Focus: CompTIA Server+; Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate Networking Focus: CompTIA Security+ (basic security is essential for all IT pros) |
Server installation/support; Network troubleshooting and tools; Security best practices |
Bonus — Soft Skills & Business Certifications¶
| Stage | Certifications | Skills Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus | CompTIA Project+ – For managing small field projects | — |